A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 13 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 13 December?
- 1294 Pope Celestine V resigns after only five months
Pope Celestine V resigned after only five months, so that he could return to his old life as a hermit. - 1577 Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth to go around the world
Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth with five ships on a voyage that would take him all the way around the world. - 1642 Abel Tasman becomes the first European known to see New Zealand
Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European recorded to have seen New Zealand. - 1643 Roundheads win a surprise attack in Hampshire
During the First English Civil War, Parliament's soldiers, led by Sir William Waller, made a surprise attack in Hampshire. - 1908 Born: Elizabeth Alexander
Elizabeth Alexander was a British geologist and physicist. - 1928 George Gershwin's An American in Paris is first performed
An American in Paris, by the American composer George Gershwin, was first performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. - 1939 The Battle of the River Plate is fought in the South Atlantic
The Battle of the River Plate was the first British naval battle of the Second World War. - 1962 NASA launches Relay 1, an early communications satellite
NASA launched Relay 1, the first active repeater communications satellite in orbit.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1294 | Pope Celestine V resigns after only five months | 2026 − 1294 = | |
| 1642 | Abel Tasman becomes the first European known to see New Zealand | 2026 − 1642 = | |
| 1908 | Born: Elizabeth Alexander | 2026 − 1908 = | |
| 1939 | The Battle of the River Plate is fought in the South Atlantic | 2026 − 1939 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- Roundheads win a surprise attack in Hampshire
- Pope Celestine V resigns after only five months
- Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth to go around the world
- Abel Tasman becomes the first European known to see New Zealand
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth to go around the world”?
- A. 1928
- B. 1577
- C. 1294
In which year did this happen: “Roundheads win a surprise attack in Hampshire”?
- A. 1974
- B. 1643
- C. 1577
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Battle of the River Plate is fought in the South Atlantic
- B. Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth to go around the world
- C. Roundheads win a surprise attack in Hampshire
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 13 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1294 → 732 years; 1642 → 384 years; 1908 → 118 years; 1939 → 87 years.
Order: 1 = Pope Celestine V resigns after only five months (1294), 2 = Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth to go around the world (1577), 3 = Abel Tasman becomes the first European known to see New Zealand (1642), 4 = Roundheads win a surprise attack in Hampshire (1643).
Quiz: 1. B (1577); 2. B (1643); 3. B (Francis Drake sets sail from Plymouth to go around the world).